Bus Transportation Services – Industry Research, Analysis, Statistics, and Forecasts

SIC 41 | NAICS 485

This free online guide to industry research and analysis provides sources for industry statistics, trends, and forecasts, financial ratios, salary surveys, and more.

See the following sections listed below to view available resources by category:

Industry Analysis, Statistics, Trends, and Forecasts

Financial Statements and Financial Ratios

Compensation and Salary Surveys

BV Guides and Databases

For guides to other industries, see our index of over 400 industries.

Industry Analysis, Statistics, Trends, and Forecasts

Industry Research Reports
Public Transportation - Bus and Rail (view report)
Scheduled & Charter Bus Services (view report)

Comprehensive industry research reports provide in-depth industry analysis and five-year forecasts, with special focus on the underlying structure and external forces and relationships that affect industries and their performance. Topics addressed in the reports include:

Market size and major product and service segments
Key industry statistics, trends, and financial ratios
Operating conditions and current performance
Competitive landscape and environment
Major company profiles and market shares
Five-year outlook and growth forecasts

Sample report and selected industry statistics including market size, five-year average growth rate, number of businesses, and total employment are available free online.

United Motorcoach Association
Bus & Motorcoach News
https://www.busandmotorcoachnews.com/

Biweekly trade magazine features news, information, and analysis for the North American commercial bus and motorcoach operators, with topics addressed in each issue including business management, fleet operations, market development, financing, human resources, insurance, maintenance, and legal advice. Selected articles from current and archived issues of the magazine can be viewed free online.

Bobit Business Media
Publications available from this organization include:

Metro Magazine
https://www.metro-magazine.com/
Monthly trade magazine features news and information for the transit bus, transit rail, and motorcoach industries, with special features including the annual "Fact Book" (September issue), "Top 100 Transit Fleet Survey" (September/October issue), and the "Top 50 Motorcoach Fleet Survey" (January issue). Annual fact book issue and current and prior digital editions of the magazine are available free online.

Fact Book
https://www.metro-magazine.com/
Annual publication provides information on the transit bus, transit rail, and motorcoach industries, with content sections including industry data (e.g., transit bus data, rail project data, top motorcoach fleets), bus and chassis manufacturers, equipment, parts and service providers, consultants and contractors, and national, state, and regional organizations serving the industry. Publication is available free online.

The Producers, Inc.
BUSRide Magazine
https://busride.com/

Monthly publication features news and information for the transit, paratransit, motorcoach, school bus, and community transportation sectors, with topics addressed in each issue including enterprise asset management, fare collection, security and surveillance, accessibility, connectivity, facility design, and driver safety and training. Current and prior digital editions of the magazine can be viewed free online.

Rankin Publishing Company, Inc.
Busline Magazine
http://www.buslinemag.com/

Bimonthly journal features news and information for tour, transit, and specialty vehicle operators, with a primary focus on equipment (e.g., buses, vans, vehicle lifts, engines, transmissions), services (e.g., finance, insurance), and technology (e.g., software systems, video surveillance, tracking technology). Digital editions are available online, with free subscription for qualified parties available upon request.

American Public Transportation Association
Fact Book
https://www.apta.com/

Annual report provides national statistics for buses used in public transportation, with data provided in this publication including passenger trips and miles, vehicle miles operated, hours operated, average speed in service, number of vehicles available, average age, minimum useful life, and employees by job function (e.g., operations, vehicle maintenance, other maintenance, and general administration).

BizMiner Market Analysis Reports
Urban Transit / Interurban and Rural Bus Services
https://www.bizminer.com Search for "485" to see available reports

Market analysis reports provide industry statistics for a user-defined area on a national, state, county, metro area, or zip code level, with data provided including number of companies, market volume and sales trends, average company sales, sales per employee, staffing and employment trends, average employee wage, and business start up activity and failure rates. Sample report can be viewed online.

More industry research reports »

Financial Statements and Financial Ratios

BizMiner Industry Financial Ratios
Urban Transit / Interurban and Rural Bus Services

https://www.bizminer.com Search for "485" to see available reports

Five-year financial statement analysis reports provide income statements, balance sheets, and key industry financial ratios for companies of all sizes, with financial data available by sales size range on a national, state, and metropolitan area level including:

Income and expenses in dollars and percentages
Balance sheets in dollars and percentages
Profitability and return on investment ratios
Liquidity and working capital ratios
Asset turnover and efficiency ratios
Capital structure and debt service ratios

Sample financial statement and ratio analysis report is available free online.

Industry Research Reports
Scheduled & Charter Bus Services

(see links for individual reports) (sample spreadsheet)

Key statistics section of these reports provides detailed income statements and balance sheets on a common-size basis and over twenty-five industry financial ratios, with financial ratios provided for the each of the four most recent calendar years and on a historical average basis for 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year time periods. Sample spreadsheet with breakdowns by asset size can be viewed free online.

More financial benchmarking data »

Compensation and Salary Surveys

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Urban Transit Systems / Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation
https://www.bls.gov/oes/urban / interurban-and-rural

Annual employment and wage surveys provide hourly and annual wage data on a national, state, and metropolitan area basis for personnel employed by firms which provide these transportation services, with job occupations covered by these surveys including transit and intercity drivers, mechanics and diesel engine specialists, and vehicle and equipment cleaners. All information is available free online.

PayScale, Inc.
Transit, Interurban, and Rural Bus Service
https://www.payscale.com/

Free online service provides median salary, bonus, and hourly wage rate data for job positions in this transportation sector such as operations manager, operations supervisor, and driver/operator (transit, transit and intercity), with employers for which wage data is provided including Greyhound Lines, Inc., First Transit, Inc., TransDev North America, Inc., MV Transportation, Inc., and Adirondack Trailways.

More compensation surveys »

BV Guides and Databases

BVMarketData
Private Company Sales Transaction Databases
https://www.bvresources.com/

Free "Visitor Search" allows users to search the DealStats, BIZCOMPS, and FactSet/BVR databases for private company sales transaction data by SIC or NAICS Code using the following codes:

– SIC Code 41 - Local, Intercity, and Rural Bus Transportation

– NAICS Code 485 - Urban, Interurban, and Rural Bus Transportation

Types of establishments included in these codes

Intercity bus transportation - establishments that operate regularly scheduled passenger services between two or more cities or regions using buses designed for long-distance travel that offer amenities such as reclining seats, onboard restrooms, and free Wi-Fi.

Urban bus services - establishments providing public transportation services using fixed routes that cover various parts of an urban area including residential districts, business districts, shopping centers, schools, hospitals, transit hubs, and government facilities.

Suburban bus lines - establishments that operate primarily in suburban areas and provide transportation services on a regularly scheduled basis between suburban locations and neighboring cities and urban centers or between different suburban communities.

Rural bus systems - establishments primarily involved in providing transportation services on a fixed-route, flex-route, and demand-response basis that permits passengers from rural areas to readily access locations that can be some distance from their homes.

Local bus lines - establishments serving a specific community or defined geographic area that typically make numerous stops on their routes to allow passengers to get on or off close to their homes, workplaces, shopping centers, schools, or other destinations.

Commuter bus operations - establishments primarily engaged in providing transportation service in the morning and evening rush hours for commuters traveling between urban or suburban employment centers and surrounding suburban or rural residential areas.

Airport shuttle services - establishments operating dedicated bus transportation services on a regularly scheduled basis between airports and designated passenger pick-up and drop-off points, such as hotels, business centers, parking lots, and transit centers.

Shuttle bus operators - establishments that transport individuals to and from designated pick-up and drop-off points for specific locations or facilities, such as hotels, resorts, amusement parks, large hospitals, corporate complexes, and university campuses.

Sample reports with detailed sales transaction data and valuation multiples are available free online.

More valuation data »

Related Industries:
Charter and Tour Bus Services
Car Rental and Leasing
Special Needs Transportation Services
Taxi and Limousine Services

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